Casino istria

Istria, this northernmost, triangle-shaped peninsula of Croatia is among the most underrated regions in the country. Located further from super popular Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, Brač or Plitvice National Park, it’s often missed from Croatian road trip itineraries. We were no exceptions. Fortunately, we visited Croatia several times, so the time came to finally fall for Istria. I hear your first question: so which are the best beaches in Istria?

Yes, Croatia, including Istria, has stunning beaches! Many of them are Blue Flag beaches (which indicates top water quality), most of them are rocky beaches, some concrete, some pebbly, and you can even find some sandy beaches in Istria. And lots of picturesque, lonely coves!

Brsec Beach is an insanely picturesque and clear one, promising candidate for the “best beach in Istria“ – what do you think?

But – sorry to keep repeating it in each of our Croatia posts – we encourage you to explore this region beyond its beautiful beaches. It has pretty coastal and hilltop towns, including Rovinj, one of the most well-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world (Pula Arena), hidden fortress ruins in the forest (Stinjan peninsula), the only fjord in the country (Lim Fjord) or elegant Habsburg-era villas (Opatija).

Okay, okay, let’s start with the beaches.

Best beach in Pula: Hawaiian Cove Beach

City beaches in general are not that impressive. But Hawaiian Cove Beach is not your usual city beach, and it’s not really in the city either. We’ve already loved this beach while we were driving there. It’s located at the tip of Verudela Peninsula, further from Pula’s center and surrounded by pine forests, other coves and 3-star Hotel Park Plaza. The fragrance of pine trees welcomed us even before we got out of the car (it’s the most convenient to access by car).

It’s a rocky and pebbly beach, with crystal clear, magically turquoise water. Pebbles on the beach are large and can be sharp, so we had our water shoes on. There’s a smooth entrance to the water which gets deep quickly, but not immediately, like on many other Istrian beaches. If you’re seeking some adrenaline rush, you can jump in from the high rock wall at the side of the cove (brave locals lead the way).

Hawaiian Cove Beach is not very large, and it can easily get crowded on summer days, especially weekends, because locals like it, too.

Parking is surprisingly easy, because there’s a giant, free parking lot at the Pula Aquarium which is about 10 minutes walk from the beach. We also liked the scenic coastal walk towards Brioni Beach on the top of the coastal rocks.

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Best snorkeling coves: Mala & Velika Kolombarica, Cape Kamenjak

Cape Kamenjak Nature Park is Istria’s jewel, and it’s wildest coastal area. It has a spectacular coastline, secluded coves, idyllic pine forest and no urban distraction. We seriously need to resist not adding all of its beaches to this list, but we’re adding several of them, because they just deserve it. They were our favorite beaches in Istria, and among our favorites in all of Croatia.

Mala Kolombarica and Velika Kolombarica are right next to each other, and they are not even real beaches, but rocky coves where you need to jump into the water from the rocks. Water shoes are strongly recommended, because the rocks are sharp and hurt your feet easily. Mala Kolombarica offers a smoother entrance of the two, it’s not necessary to literally jump in, but you still need to find the places where you can step into the water from the rocks.

Both Mala and Velika Kolombarica are great for snorkeling, and we find their wild beauty very impressive. If you’re looking for family-friendly beaches though, they are not the ones.

There’s an entrance fee to Cape Kamenjak Nature Park, but once you’re inside, there are several large, free parking lots near the different beaches and coves.

The Kolombarica coves are a few minutes walk on a scenic coastal path from the nearest parking lot. There’s a cool safari bar not far from them.

Read this, too: Cape Kamenjak, Our Favorite Place In Istria

Best romantic cove: Plovanije Beach, Cape Kamenjak

If you’re looking for secluded, romantic coves, Cape Kamenjak has plenty of them. Our favorite was Plovanije Beach on the western side of the peninsula. In general, we found the western coves more dramatic and pretty than the eastern beaches.

Plovanije Beach is a relatively small, romantic pebbly cove with a smooth entrance to the water – and incredible colors! Shade is easy to find in the Mediterranean pine forest surrounding the bay. It takes about a 5 minutes walk to reach the cove on a narrow, dirt footpath.

We found it great with a toddler, as well. The pebbles are smooth and fine, and the cove is sheltered. Water shoes are optional, we didn’t wear them on this beach.

A close second favorite cove is nearby Radovica Beach which is quite similar to Plovanije: small and very pretty, offers a smooth pebbly entrance, but is surrounded by rocks and pine forest. Since we hiked all along the western coastline of Cape Kamenjak, we’ve seen all the coves and beaches there. Pinižule and Njive Beaches are somewhat similar to Plovanije and Radovica, but they were more busy. While Plovanije and Radovica offer no services, Pinižule and Njive Beaches have their own beach bars.

They’re all suitable for families with kids, too, thanks to their smooth pebbly water entrances, but the most family-friendly beach is on the eastern side…

Read this, too: 10 Unforgettable Things To Do In Istria, Croatia

Best sandy beach: Mali Portić Beach, Cape Kamenjak

Mali Portić Beach is the only sandy beach in Cape Kamenjak, which makes it ideal for families with small kids. You can’t find many sandy beaches in Istria, and honestly, Croatia’s most magical beaches are not the sandy ones. But Mali Portić Beach is nice, just not as breathtaking as any of the aforementioned coves. It’s for you if you’re searching for a beach where your little ones can safely splash and play in the sand.

Best barely-known gem: Brseč Beach (Klancac Beach)

Pure, deep waters, lack of crowds and dramatic coastal cliffs. This was the magic of Istria’s beaches for us, and we found all of them on Brseč Beach – which you might have never heard of, and that’s because most people haven’t.

We were driving through the Opatija Riviera, but didn’t feel the urge to stop at most of its beaches. They were not the natural, secluded kind of beaches we were hoping for. Then we found Brseč Beach. It’s a small pebble beach, a giant rock wall towers above it, and it was our private little beach for about an hour after we arrived.

Parking space is very limited, only enough for a few cars. But it was not a problem since we arrived first. If you can’t park directly by the stairs that lead down to Brseč Beach, drive further up to a larger dirt parking lot. It adds about half an hour of walking on the road to reach the beach from there. Oh, and don’t drive into the lovely little town of Brseč in search of the beach, it’s just outside of it. Its proper name is Klancac Beach, in the municipality of Brseč.

Best urban beach: Slatina Beach, Opatija

A confession first: we liked walking on the seafront promenade in Opatija, and the 19^th century Habsburg-era villas create a special atmosphere in this town. But we don’t really like urban beaches nor artificial beaches in general. There are some exceptions, but Opatija’s beaches are not among them.

Yet Slatina Beach, backed up by the lovely promenade and the town center, could be a favorite for many. Opatija is not a large city, the water is very clean and the beach has been awarded with a Blue Flag. Several steps and stairs help entering the water, and even a small sandy beach was created for kids. Restaurants, bars and ice cream parlors are right behind the beach, just as some of Opatija’s luxurious hotels.

It’s a great beach if you’re looking for a lively place with good amenities.

More Istria beaches

We highlighted the very best beaches in Istria, and we didn’t want to create an endless list, while we wanted to include choices from several parts of the Istrian peninsula. Check. But what if you’ll stay in one area and look for more beaches there? Here, we have some more choices for you.

More of the best beaches in Pula

So Pula is a big enough city that if you’d like to chill out on a nice beach, you should try to get as far from the city center and the busy harbor as you can. Hence the most popular Pula beaches are actually outside of Pula, mainly on the Verudela peninsula, south of Pula. We’ve already mentioned Hawaii Beach (or the Hawaiian Cove Beach), but there’s also Ambrela Beach, Histria Beach or Saccorgiana Beach. All of them are pebbly beaches.

Štinjan Peninsula is northwest of Pula’s city center, and we liked the small, hidden bays here the most. They require some walking, and there’s space for only a few people on the beach, but that’s what makes them special. (Be prepared for nudity, locals like these hidden, small beaches.)

Fazana is about a 15 minutes drive from Pula to the north, and it’s a coastal town known for its nice beaches. Fazana Beach (or South Beach) is a long pebble beach that you can reach on foot from the south of the town through a pretty olive avenue. Valbandon Beach is also south of Fazana, and in addition to the long, pebbly bay, it offers a white sandbank where you can lie in the sun.

Best beaches in Rovinj

First of all, Rovinj is one of our favorite places in Croatia – but not because of its beaches. We adore the old town of Rovinj, but drive further for the loveliest beaches. If you still want to jump in for a swim while sightseeing, Balota Beach is a small stone beach right under the historic walls of the old town. Nothing special and quite artificial. What makes it memorable are the views of Rovinj’s center in the background. A nice beach for a sightseeing break on a hot day.

But the most magnificent beaches of Rovinj are located on the Golden Cape. Like Zlatni Rat Beach which is not your traditional beach, but a unique rocky plateau, and you can access it on foot though the forest park. (Don’t confuse it with Zlatni rat on Brač Island. They simply happen to have the same name.)

Lone Bay Beach is more family-friendly, with pebbly entrances and rocks on the side, pine trees giving plenty of shade.

Mulini Beach is near the harbor, and it’s not really our kind of beach, with lots of concrete/paved surfaces. It’s only 20 minutes walk from the old town though.

Best beaches in Porec

Zelena Laguna is a beloved summer holiday destination, with several pebbly bays along the 10 km long coastline, backed up by hotels, apartment complexes, campsites, bars and restaurants.

North of Porec Materada Beach is a true wild beach, untouched and with no facilities.

Best beaches in Umag

Umag is in the northwestern corner of Istria, close to the Slovenian border. Umag beaches are also mostly pebbly and rocky, often with rough entrances – and with magical shades of blue and turquoise.

Polynesia Beach is one of those fabulous beaches with clear water and incredible colors, only a short walk away from a Roman archaeological site. Kanegra Beach is located in another wonderful bay and is surrounded by fragrant pine forests.

Do you need water shoes on Istria beaches?

Yes. Istria has many beaches that are rocky and have a rough entrance. Even pebbly beaches are better in water shoes, because pebbles here are sharper and larger than on the southern coastline of Croatia. Sharp rocks and pebbles can hurt your feet badly, so we definitely recommend water shoes. In exchange, the coastline is quite dramatic at places and offers plenty of excellent snorkeling opportunities.

Are there jellyfish in the water?

People rarely ask this question, because you don’t usually meet with jellyfish in the Adriatic Sea. We haven’t read about this in any travel guides, nor we saw jellyfish in other parts of Croatia, but we found hundreds of them along the western coastline of Istria: everywhere near Pula, Rovinj and the western beaches of Cape Kamenjak. They were small, transparent comb jellies, but in such large numbers that sometimes we didn’t have any other choice but to swim through them. They are not dangerous to humans, but they can still make swimming in these bays disconcerting. It’s a strange feeling to accidentally touch them while in the water.

Tide and wind strongly affects where the comb jellyfish is found, and some people are lucky to spend a holiday in Istria while barely noticing them. Just be prepared that it can happen – and they are harmless. We haven’t seen any on the eastern shoreline of Istria though. This article explains how they have become an issue in the Adriatic Sea in the past years.

Where to stay in Istria?

Pula is our favorite base to stay in Istria, because it’s close to countless stunning beaches both south and north of it, and Rovinj or Cape Kamenjak are the best day trips from Pula. If you’d like to stay right by the beach, Hotel Park Plaza Arena Pula or Arene Verudela are both walking distance from Hawaiian Cove Beach.

There’s no accommodation inside Cape Kamenjak Nature Park, the closest to stay are the apartments, hotels or campings in Premantura.

While Rovinjis a comfortable day trip from Pula, you can spend a few days there to explore the nearby beaches at a leisurely pace. Porecand Umagare the best to explore the northwestern region of Istria, and Opatijais a great base to explore the eastern coastline.

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By Beata Urmos

Bea is a travel writer and the co-founder of Our Wanders, an adventurous family travel blog. She’s been traveling for more than 10 years, seeking outdoor adventures, fairy tale castles and unique experiences. She's passionate about sharing all she has learned along the way, and she's an expert in planning trips of any length. She’d love to help you plan your own amazing trip, too.